Young baseball players dream about making diving catches, such as those they see on ESPN’s "Baseball Tonight" in a segment called Web Gems. However, for as long as they play the game, they will have many more chances to field basic ground balls, line drives and fly balls than they will to make fantastic plays. A coach should conduct drills on these basic fielding fundamentals during every practice session so his players can perform their easily during games.
Catching the Baseball
Whether the ball is hit on the ground or in the air, a fielder’s objective is to catch the ball. Teach your players to catch the ball with their fingers pointed upward if the ball comes above their waist, and downward if it comes below their waist, including ground balls. If the ball comes waist-high, they should bend their knees and catch the ball with their fingers pointed upward. Tell them to hold their throwing hand close to their glove, so they can secure the ball after they catch it, and quickly take the ball out of their glove to prepare to throw it.
Routine Ground Balls
The easiest ground balls for infielders and outfielders to catch are those hit straight at them, or routine ground balls. Once the ball is hit, teach your infielders to first take a step to the right to prepare to round the ball from right to left, toward first base. Have them approach the ball from the right and move in front of it when it is about 10 feet in front of them. They should set up to field the ball with their butt down and glove in front of their body. After they field the ball, they should quickly remove the ball from their glove with their throwing hand, take two steps toward first base, and make a strong throw. Teach your outfielders to field routine ground balls the same way as infielders, but they do not have to round the ball from right to left.
Backhand for Ground Balls
If the ball is hit to the right side of infielders, and they do not have time to get in front of it, they need to field the ball backhanded. As they approach the ball while moving to the right, infielders should plant either foot with the other foot behind, lower their body and field the ball just in front of their front foot. Make sure they keep their torso upright as they lower their body. Left-handed throwers will backhand balls hit to their left instead of their right.
Forehand for Ground Balls
If the ball is hit to the left side of infielders, they should field the ball with the forehand. While moving to the left, just before they get to the ball, infielders should plant their left foot with their right foot behind, lower their body, and field the ball in front of their left foot. Left-handed throwers will forehand balls hit to their right and field the ball in front of their right foot instead of their left foot.
Fly Balls
Infielders and outfielders should use the same fundamentals to field fly balls. Once the ball is hit toward them in the air, teach them to open their body toward the ball and take at least one step backward. This will give them time to judge how far the ball will travel. Then, they should run to where they anticipate the ball will land and position themselves about a yard behind that spot with their glove-side foot behind the other. As the ball drops, they should step forward with their glove-side foot and catch the ball above their forehead. Then infielders should hold the ball and outfielders should exchange the ball to their throwing hand, crow hop, and make a strong and accurate throw to the infield.
References
- ESPN.com: BBTN Web Gems June 24
- "The Baseball Coaching Bible"; Jerry Kindall and John Winkin; 1999
- "The Baseball Drill Book"; Bob Bennett; 2004
- WePlay.com: Catching Fly Balls
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